Season preview: Ipswich Town

The curtain raises on the 2013-14 Championship season this weekend and Sports Mole has been gazing into its crystal ball to assess the 24 teams' chances this term. Now it's the turn of the division's longest-serving side - Ipswich Town.

In:

Paul Anderson (From Bristol City, Swap Deal), David McGoldrick (From Nottingham Forest, Free), Daryl Murphy (From Celtic, Free), Cole Skuse (From Bristol City, Free, Jay Tabb (From Reading, Free), Dean Gerken (From Bristol City – Free), Frederic Veseli (From Manchester United, Free), Christophe Berra (From Wolverhampton Wanderers, Free), Jack Doherty (From Waterford United, £50,000), Ryan Tunnicliffe (From Manchester United, Loan)

Out:

Michael Chopra (To Blackpool, Undisclosed), Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (To Bristol City, Swap Deal), Andy Drury (To Crawley Town, Free), Lee Martin (To Millwall, Free), Gunnar Thorsteinsson (To IBV, Free), Jack Ainsley (Released), Cormac Burke (Released), Arran Lee-Barrett (Released), Ronan Murray (Released), Joe Whight (Released)

Last Season: 14th

Manager: Mick McCarthy

Three key players:

© PA Photos

Luke Chambers - "I wasn't playing my best football but since the gaffer has taken over, I feel I'm playing some of the best football of my career," centre-back Chambers recently told twentyfour7 Football. The 27-year-old was part of a defence that, at the beginning of last season, were shipping goals galore and had by far the worst goal difference in the Championship. Since McCarthy took over from Paul Jewell, the Blues' backline stiffened up immeasurably, including a run of 10 clean sheets from 14 games towards the end of the season. Similar performances from Chambers and Tommy Smith, with added competition from Berra, should see Ipswich have a much better season.

© PA Photos

Luke Hyam - The 21-year-old is a local lad who has come up through the ranks and is adored by the Portman Road faithful. He is now a regular starter in the heart of midfield and, despite his 5'8" size, knows how to put himself about. When in the opposition penalty area he also knows where the goal is and this box-to-box nature should be enhanced by the steady influence of new recruit Skuse in the middle. McCarthy will be hoping that Hyam can push on this year and establish himself as a leader within the team.

© PA Photos

David McGoldrick - Frontman McGoldrick joined the Blues on loan from Nottingham Forest for the second half of last season after shooting his way to the top of the League One scoring charts with Coventry City in the first half of the campaign. He netted four times for the Tractor Boys in 13 appearances but a better return this year looks on the cards. He has been in scorching form in pre-season and McCarthy will need him to do similar things this campaign if Ipswich are going to make a run at the top six and not come bottom of the attacking league, where they managed just over a goal a game in 2012-13.

First game: Reading (A), Complete fixture list

Sports Mole says: As mentioned above, Ipswich are the Championship's best servant, having not experienced a change since they were relegated from the Premier League in 2002. It's been a stale few years for the Tractor Boys but this season things are looking up. Since McCarthy took over last November, Ipswich were the fourth-best team in the league and had it not been for the sluggish start to the season under Paul Jewell, then a top-half finish would have been achieved. The transfer dealings this summer have to be admired as just £50,000 has been spent on youngster Doherty, yet 10 players have arrived in Suffolk. To add to this, high earners like Chopra and Emmanuel-Thomas, who never quite delivered on their promise in a blue shirt, have moved on. When picking out a dark horse for the second tier this year, McCarthy's Ipswich may just be your best bet and a charge for the playoffs should be attainable.

Predicted finish: 8th